People in Markdale are trying to return to normal routines as the kids return to school.
The community is still reeling from two major incidents this summer – first a tornado touched down in the village on August 20th and did two million dollars damage.
Then just last Friday a massive fire destroyed the village’s largest employer, Chapman’s Ice Cream.
Some 60 families had to flee their homes and the evacuation order was just lifted on Sunday.
But the kids can expect it to be business as usual in their classrooms.
Beavercrest Community School in Markdale is open for the first day back.
Principal Leigh Morris tells Bayshore Broadcasting News the JK to Grade 8 school was not in the path of either the tornado or the fire’s smoke and was not damaged.
Morris says the only thing out of the ordinary will be the Boil Water Advisory, which is expected to be in effect for several more days.
Morris says during the annual back to school assembly, the students will be reminded not to drink water from the fountains.
She says as an added precaution, the drinking fountains will be covered.
Morris says thanks to the Bluewater District School Board and community donations, bottled water will be available for all students.
Morris says with everything the community went through this summer, all the teachers will be keeping a careful eye on their 245 students.
She says they won’t have counsellors on hand for the first day, but if they decide the kids need that extra help they will be made available.
Morris says she used to be a member of the Bluewater Tragedy Response Team and feels prepared to deal with the situation.
Morris says the school population is very close-knit, as is the community at large.
She says this can actually be an opportunity to set an example for the children about how people come together to help each other through challenging times.